The death of a worker in a freak fire accident marred festivities meant to felicitate newly-appointed union minister of state Kavuri Sambasiva Rao in Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday. An auto trolley carrying fire-crackers and tailing a minister’s convoy caught fire triggering a huge explosion in Krishna district.

It was meant to be a day of festivities to honour the man who waited all his life to become a minister. Kavuri Sambasiva Rao, the newly-anointed union minister of state for textiles arrived at the Gannavaram airport on Tuesday. He couldn’t wait to head to his native West Godavari district on his very first visit since his elevation.

After celebrity company on board and a smooth touchdown, Rao emerged out to a rousing reception. As the senior Congress leader hit the road for Eluru, thousands of his followers tailed him in hundreds of vehicles.

But just when the cavalcade crossed Pedda Auvutapalli in Krishna district, the explosion occured. Panic and chaos prevailed for a while as the explosion was initially taken for an act of sabotage. But soon the entourage realised that it was a freak fire accident

An auto trolley, filled to the brim with fire-crackers, was set ablaze by falling flares. A thunderous explosion and plumes of smoke billowing out of the vehicle brought the entire convoy to a screeching halt.

Soon, the auto trolley turned into a ball of fire with parts of two bodies strewn around. A labourer perished in the mishap while another is reported to be in a very critical condition.

The auto trolley going up in flames right in the middle of the road caused commotion on the usually busy national highway no.5. Fire-tenders were pressed into service to put out the fire. The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital. On a different day, the freak mishap and tragic death would have meant curtains down on the celebrations. But just like Rao, even his followers waited for decades for this coveted post falling in his lap. Despite the hiccup, Sambasiva Rao went ahead with his visit undeterred. and accepted the felicitations with both hands.